givemeahug786 wrote:I wish un-capped, David Delany will stay with Ireland team much longer than Elegant McCarthy

Not enough new faces in the squads which disappoints me. David Delany deserves a chance after his form in the inter-pros but I felt his namesake Gareth Delany should have been selected also as it is as clear as day that our T20 batting needs a serious overhaul. James McCollum is another that should have got a shot in this series. The aim has to be getting a team that can progress to the main stage of the next T20 World Cup. The results in this series should be secondary to that. If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results, then using largely the same team that has seen our t20 ranking fall off a cliff in recent years is, well...insane.

McCarthy must have pissed off someone in Cricket Ireland. Stuart Poynter has been keeping tidy and getting runs for Durham but is also overlooked. No Tyrone Kane either.

If selected for the T20s, Boyd Rankin will play international cricket on the same ground where he learned the game.

Start delayed because of rain (Surprise surprise). Ireland to bowl first in an 18 overs game. Tyrone Kane was called up to the squad this morning and plays. No debut for Delany but a 2nd cap for left arm pacer Josh Little.

Unfortunately for TK he got the worst of the Afghan onslaught in the powerplay but improved when he came back on. Very impressed with Josh Little considering how little (pardon the pun ) he has played this summer. We just might have a player here. We did well to restrict Afghanistan to 160 considering how we started. Still a tough total to chase as this wicket has plenty for the bowlers though.

Unfortunately for TK he got the worst of the Afghan onslaught in the powerplay but improved when he came back on. Very impressed with Josh Little considering how little (pardon the pun ) he has played this summer. We just might have a player here. We did well to restrict Afghanistan to 160 considering how we started. Still a tough total to chase as this wicket has plenty for the bowlers though.

From over 14-18 Ireland bowlers did good job but Mujeeb's first 2 over Ireland lost 2 wickets which cost them close game.

givemeahug786 wrote:From over 14-18 Ireland bowlers did good job but Mujeeb's first 2 over Ireland lost 2 wickets which cost them close game.

16 run margin looks like a close game but in truth we were never in it after Stirling got out (to an absolute worldie of a catch mind you). As I have said before, there is too much one-dimensional and cautious batting in our top order.

Exact same 160 target is given second time but the Irish failed miserably with a paltry 79. Hope they get a consolation win for the 3rd match. If it’s a whitewash i question their skill altogether as in if they can’t win over afghans, what’s the point in arranging matches against other bigger teams? or it that afghans are too good and are ready for bigger matches??? hmmm.

Going South wrote:Exact same 160 target is given second time but the Irish failed miserably with a paltry 79. Hope they get a consolation win for the 3rd match.

I wouldn't bet on it

Going South wrote: If it’s a whitewash i question their skill altogether as in if they can’t win over afghans, what’s the point in arranging matches against other bigger teams? or it that afghans are too good and are ready for bigger matches??? hmmm.

T20 is Afghanistan's strongest format and they are getting better. It's our worst and we're getting worse. It's almost five years since our last win against them.